The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-02
MOST HORRIBLE!
Gasoline Explosion in st. Louis.
A Two-Story House Blown from It's
Foundation.
Seventeen Persons Buried Beneath
the Timbers of the Wreck.
Awful Deaths, and Terrible Bxpe-
riences Of the Saved.
The Cause of the Explosion Mystery,
But the Use OF Dynamite Sus-
pected- Narrowing
Incidents.

ST LOUIS, Mo-, Nov. IA FASH followed
by dull roar, and then the crash of walls,
conyulsed the center of this city at 2.03
o'clock this morning, and the clamor that
followed carried the rumor of the horrible
calamity that had befallen three families
while wrapped in slumber. An explosion
OF gasoline in the rear Of the cellar of Mich.
ael Newman's grocery store, No. Is South
Fourteenth street, had lifted the two story
building from its foundation and dropped it
back again in mass, beneath which were
seventeen persons.
The messenger OF death had scarcely
wrecked the place before devastating fire
swept through the ruins and seemed bent on
internal work Human aid was quickly on
the scene, but in such confusion that the
horror seemed 10 increase with the efforts to
relieve the imprisoned victims. The people
OF the neighborhood, dumhfoundcd, many
bruised and none In their normal state,
rantcd about the streets seeking friends, de
manding explanations or moaning from
bruises. The sheet Of flame that had swooped
down upon the ruins hailcd the efforts OF
the iircmen, who had begun the first system
attic work, and for few minutes bid fair to
spread into adjoining property. But good
work woni and Then began the search Tor the
dead.
The store was on the corner OF the alley
running through from Fourteenth 20 Targcc
street, aud was the north room Of the build
ing covering Nos. I, o and IL South -Four
tecnth street. The building, two story
brick, was completed but a short time ago,
aud only one siorc-room was occupied. All
Of the upstairs portion was occupied 10y tenc-
mcnts. Mr.. Newman and his family OF seven
lived over the store
The force of the explosion was terrific; the
entire block Uf buildings north of and acruss
the alley from the building IN which the oN-
plo.ion took place were guitcd by the blast
The Newman block crushed In was covered
by the roof, which had settled down upon
the ruins, forming n barrier through
which the rcscucrs had 90 cut away beams
and walls, impedcd progress, and threaten
ing walls on either side oycrhung, ready 10
crush the gallant men who pressed 10 the
spot where calls for help directed them. The
roof was then removed, and in the debris
were revealed the maugled forms of thc
grpefgymen'. family. Two ladies, New
mans daughters, were first removed. Ma
mic, eighteen ycan OF age, was still alive,
but. mgnglcd from the timbcrs and charrci
by lire, was beyond the hope ~ recovery.
Her sister Nellie, a girl Ot fifteen year,
moanod piteously for her sister, and seemed
a. forget her own desperate injuries iu
mou.nlul inquiries for hcr. For the
hiif hour that these two lad been impris-
onCd their efforts lad been 10 d;aw near To
each other. when they saw escape impossi-
bic. Neither can survive.
The rcst II the Newman family were dead.
Some sat upright aud othors were doubled In
their beds Life had evidently ncd while
they were wrapped IN slumber. In the same
building. over storc-foom No. Q, lived Charles
Dcvcnc, travelling salesman. aud his wife.
Visiting them was Miss Hattie Bryant,
of Columbus, ny. She was badly in
jurcd, but miraculously escaped death,
being one of two persons who passed
through the horrible ordeal and lives
90 tell The story of escape. She awokc
10 find herself buried beneath heavy timhcri
somewhere against n wall. She is unable tO
tell where she was thrown, hut when her
eyes opened .hc bchcld n thrilling scene that
had all the effect of horrible dream. ON ono
side wall ot fire reached to the sky, while
the crashing timbcs aud the clnticr VI iron
caused a storm Of dangerous missiles 10 lly
about her head. The screams of those Ia the
adjoining building rang In her ears, and ns
she realized her situation she almost
tainted, but nerycd to last dies.
pcmte struggle by the groans oi the
dying. She cfsnycd 90 escape. but found
her efforts baillcd at every turn. She was
firmly pinned hy beam across her thigh and
an iron rod over one ankle. She could not
tell what incars she employed o. get out, bat
ns she twisted and struggled in vain the fire
was blown toward her until her long, black
trcsscs were scoryhcd, and the odor Of burn
ing meats penetrated her lungs aud almost
miIocntcd The brave girl, who hatilcd buycly
for life. Relief appeared hopeless, and just
ns she sank back IN despair, the ruins settled
down aud the OycrhnuTing timbcr wcr,
raised irum the limbs which were fcttcrcd if
the deadly embrace No time was tobc lost
n the fire pressed close around her
With an extraordinary effort Miss Bryant
,prang "a her feet aud staggering, falling and
rolling she made her way through the ruin
without knowing where she was going, moi
nossesslng power to scc or feel way a. safety
hpain and again she fell and, a. she says
her strength was completely exhausted, bu
shc stumbled forward. falling hcndlong int
an open space, where she lay unconscious To-
a few moments She vas restored by COO
breeze that brought the blood 10 her brain
and she ngniu rose 10 her feet only to hn,
herself in the comparative safety Oi n small
rear yard. Thence she ran 10 a ncighbor'
house, and climbing through balcony, sanl
down IN swoon. A ncighbor found he
there and carried her into the street, whcr
shc was given skirt aud some clothing. Sh
Maid no attention 20 the kind offers Of friend
Iy hands, but went down 10 the scene Of IN
cxplosion aud remained there In agony
eagerly scanning charrcd and bruised face
as the nrcmcn carried the victims from th
huge heap OF splniercd material.
over storc.r0om No. II resided Mrs. Bry
ant whom Miss Hattie was visiting Wit
them were Two boardcrs, Charles Eiiicr
and Mn. Boaslcy. The last named wa
buried 10 deep IN the debris that search fo
her was given up until the Others were n
moved. Charles Eiflcrd was uninjurcd.
Besides those injured Ia this buildin
there were many persons IN the noighbo
hood more or Ices cut and bruised. for tl
aying splinwh and bricks did not alor
destroy the Newman store. For sever
blocks on either side of the street the COT
cussion shattered the windows, and IN u
Immediate vicinity, on the opposite side {
the way, the fronts Of buildings were mnshe
In by the terrible force, aud scarcely
window or door remains. Walls crackc'
noor gave way aud plaster fell IN almo
every house within n radius OF 100 yard
and. ON the heads Of the sleeping resident
fell with horrible suddcnnc.s. Ihcir in'
rushing and flght from they knew nov W.;a ~
In aconfusion worse conioundcd add'
moro 10 their injury. The scene o. ier,or
,he street was Illuminated by the Hhhs,
clare OF the consuming fame, and u
figures wildly running and gc,ueui,an,', g,l,n y
,obed only I'm night dresses, wildly told v